Insulation-repairing device.



W. C. ULRICH.

INSULATION REPAIRING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31. I916.

1,225,29Q, Patent-ed May 8, 1917.

fiarn gynrrrrnn snares PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM C. ULRICH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOB, OF ONE-HALF TO PETER J. LAVAIILE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESGTA.

INSULATION-REPAIRING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 121?.

Application filed January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,405.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM C. ULRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Insulation-Repairing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for repairing insulated wires, the primary object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device, which will repair the insulati on on aerial electrical conductors, while they remain strung upon their supports when in use.

I-leretofore it has been customary after the insulation has deteriorated upon aerial electrical conductors to take the conductors down from their supports and discard them, and where any repairing has been done to the insulation, it has been customary to pass the conductors through stationary machines, designed for that purpose. The cost of dismantling and reconstructing a line in this manner is considerable, and this expense is substantially obviated by the use of my invention.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken upon the line XX of Fig. 1, and Figs. 3, 1, 5 and 6 are views of details.

In the drawing, A indicates a receptacle in the form of a long narrow trough adapted to contain insulating compound or medium in liquid condition. On the opposite ends of this receptacle are two sheave pulleys 2 and 3 journaled upon supports 41 and 5, which are mounted upon the receptacle. The insulated electrical conductor B to be repaired and while strung in service passes over the sheave puleys 2 and 3, and is deflected downwardly between said pulleys into the bath of insulating compound contained in the receptacle by means of a guide pulley 6, which is journaled upon the depending sides 7 of a carriage The carriage C is in the form of a channel member narrower than the width of the receptacle A, and its bar member 8 has secured thereto three cross bars 9, v

10 and 11, all of which have" theirends extending from the sides of the carriage. The bars 9 and 10 are secured to the opposite ends of the carriage while the bar 11 is positioned midway between the ends. Three pairs of catches 12, 13 and 14: are pivoted by rivets 15 to the sides of the receptacle A, so that the free ends of said catches may engage over the projecting ends of the bars 9, 10 and 11, to hold the carriage down securely with the conductor B depressed and passing below the depressing sheave 6. The pair of catches 12 engage over the ends of the bar 9, a pair of catches 13 engage over the ends of the bar 10, and the pair of catches 14: engage over the bar 11. All of said catches are adapted to swing forwardly into engaging position toward the end of the receptacle carrying the forward guide sheave 2. The catches are held in upright and engaging position by means of the helical springs 16, which are secured to the receptacle. Suitable stops 17 on the sides of the receptacle limit the forward swinging movement of the catches, while the latter are held under ten sion by the spring 16. The surfaces 18 of the notches 19 in the catches 14 incline upwardly and inwardly, and the ends of the bar 11 are bent correspondingly, so that the catches 14 tend to lock into engagement with the bar 11 and hold the carriage more securely in position.

In use the receptacle is adjusted on the conductor to be repaired with the conductor passingover the sheave pulleys 2 and 3. The carriage is then engaged with the catches 12, 13 and 14 with the sheave 6 depressing the conductor downwardly into the bath of insulating repairing material contained in the receptacle. The device is then moved slowly in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1, the insulating conductor thereby being passed downwardly through the bath of insulating material and receiving a coat, which fully restores the insulation on the conductor. Should the device meet with a cross conductor which is connected with the longitudinal conductor B, while the device is applying the insulation, the cross conductor upon coming into con tact with the pairs of catches 12 and 13 will successively swing said catches backwardly into the position illustrated in Fig. 5, and upon passing each pair of catches release them back into engagement with the cross bars with which they are adapted to cooperate automatically.

In order to block the notches 2.0 in each of the catches, so that the cross conductor will pass the notch without engaging the catch, a block arm 21 is pivoted on each Suitable wipers are provided on the rearward portion of the device for removing the superfluous insulating compound received from the bath in the receptacle afterthe device is moved forwardly on the conductor. Two of these wipers 25 and 26 in the form of spring arms are secured to the opposite sides of the receptacle and provided with flexible inwardly projecting strips 27 acting against the conductor from the sides, while a third wiper in the form of a spring arm 28 is secured to the arm 10, and has a flexible strip 29 acting downwardly upon the conductor under spring pressure. Should a cross conductor on the longitudinal conductor meet these wipers, the fleXible strips 27 and 29 yield and allow it to pass. The dipping or depressing sheave 6 has a toothed surface 30. The interstices between these teeth are adapted to receive a cross conductor, and allow it to pass Without obstruction.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I hay e described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to ters Patent is:

1. A device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulating material, guides at its opposite ends having a rolling contact with the conductor, a carriage having a deflecting guide adapted to immerse the conductor in said bath, and means held'under spring tension for securing said carriage to said receptacle.

2. A device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of inprotect by Letsulating material, guides at its opposite ends having a rolling contact with the conductor, a carriage having a deflecting guide adapted to immerse the conductor in said bath, and means held under spring tension for detachably securing said carriage to said receptacle.

8. A device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, COJDI'HlSIHg', a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulating material, guides at its opposite ends adapted to travel upon the conductor and hold the receptacle in position to receive the conductor, a carriage arranged upon said receptacle having means for immersing the conductor in said bath, a series of fasteners hinged to secure said carriage on said receptacle and arranged to successively release from said carriage by contact with cross wires connected with said conductor.

4. A device for the repairingof insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulating material, guides at the opposite ends of said receptacle adapted to travel upon the conductor and hold the receptacle in position to receive the conductor, a carriage arranged upon said receptacle, and having means for immersing the conductor in said bath, fasteners having shoulders adapted to releasably secure said carriage on said receptacle, said fasteners being releasable by contact with cross wires con nected with said conductor, means on said fasteners for guiding said cross wires over said shoulders without said cross wires engaging said fasteners and means for Wiping the superfluous insulating material on said conductor received from said bath.

5. A device for repairing insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulatingmaterial, guides at the opposite ends of said receptacle adapted to travel upon the conductor and hold the receptacle in position to receive the conductor, a carriage arranged upon said receptacle and having means for immersing the conductor in said bath, a series of fasteners hinged upon said receptacle and releasably engaging said carriage, said fasteners being successively releasable from said carriage by contact with cross wires connected with said conductor without entirely releasing the carriage from said receptacle and wipers carried by said parts for removing superfluous insulating material received from said bath.

6. A device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulating material, guides at its opposite ends having a rolling contact with the conductor, a carriage having a deflecting guide adapted to immerse the conductor in said bath, and means for securing said carriage on said receptacle and adapted to release said carriage from said receptacle by contact with wires crossing said conductor.

7. A device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of 1,n

adapted to be successively released by contact with wires crossing said conductor.

8. A. device for repairing the insulation on electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle for holding a bath of insulating material, guides at its opposite ends having a rolling contact with the conductor, a carriage having a deflecting guide adapted to immerse the conductor in said bath, a plurality of devices for normally securing said carriage on said receptacle and adapted to be successively released by con tact with wires crossing said conductor, and means vior automatically returning each of said devices into normal position upon the cessation of contact with said cross wires.

9. A device for repairing the insulation on overhead electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle containing a bath of insulating material mechanism for immersing the conductor in said bath, and means for securing said mechanism to said receptacle and adapted by contact with an obstruction lying crosswise of and in proximity to the conductor to release said mechanism from the receptacle.

10. A device for repairing on overhead electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle containing a bath of insulating material, mechanism for immersing the conductor in said bath, and means for securing said mechanism to said receptacle and adapted by contact with an obstruction to temporarily release said mechanism from the receptacle.

11. A device for repairing the insulation on overhead electrical conductors, comprising, a portable receptacle containing a bath of insulating material, mechanism for passing said conductor through said bath, and means for releasably securing said mecha nism to said receptacle and adapted by contact with an obstruction to temporarily release said mechanism from the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM G. ULRICH.

the insulation Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eetente,

Washington, I). G." 

